Never been to FNM. How to avoid looking like an idiot

tsul25 · August 07, 2012, 12:37:41 AM

Well I feel like the title was a fairly blunt description of this topic. I started playing a little more than a month ago and have only played casually. I would like to go to a FNM so I can play against some new decks, meet some people, and see if I'm any good. However, I want to make sure I don't do anything incredibly stupid so that people won't remember me as that guy that did *insert embarrassing moment*. So any advice on what to do and what not to do would be appreciated.

AgrusKos · August 07, 2012, 12:41:53 AM

Don't act like an idiot😉. Just have fun. I've seen your deck. It's pretty solid

Coffee Vampire · August 07, 2012, 12:44:52 AM

Well just so you know, new people always make mistakes but they are never remembered as "that guy". I mean...unless you burn down the LGS because you miracled a {Thunderous Wrath}, I doubt anyone will make fun of you or remember you in a bad way. People at my FNM are friendly at least

That said, you still obviously want to make as few mistakes as possible. Just remember to ask to read a card if you don't know what it does. Make sure to indicate when you pass your turn.

And btw one common mistake is to not correct the mistakes of others! If someone takes control of your bonded wolfir and swings for 8 with it, by all means don't let it happen!

tsul25 · August 07, 2012, 12:46:27 AM

Haha. Well I said idiot, but I probably meant something more towards having an embarrassing moment. Sometimes I stress over the little things. Like, do I just carry a deck box in, or am i suppose to have a bag. What if they're drafting that night, will I be the only one carrying around my standard deck. If its a draft am I suppose to bring sleeves to put my cards in. Things like that lol

tsul25 · August 07, 2012, 12:48:11 AM

Quote from: Coffee Vampire on August 07, 2012, 12:44:52 AM
Well just so you know, new people always make mistakes but they are never remembered as "that guy". I mean...unless you burn down the LGS because you miracled a {Thunderous Wrath}, I doubt anyone will make fun of you or remember you in a bad way. People at my FNM are friendly at least

That said, you still obviously want to make as few mistakes as possible. Just remember to ask to read a card if you don't know what it does. Make sure to indicate when you pass your turn.

And btw one common mistake is to not correct the mistakes of others! If someone takes control of your bonded wolfir and swings for 8 with it, by all means don't let it happen!

Oo. I totally would have let them swing for 8 if they took my buddy wolfir silverheart. Didn't know that unbonded him.

Coffee Vampire · August 07, 2012, 12:58:54 AM

So did I.

after the game (which I won), I noticed it said "as long as you control". I didn't mind tok much though since I won :p

As for your questions:

Check the website of your lgs or call them. You will learn when they do constructed and when they do drafts, etc.

As for how to bring your deck, it is good to have a deckbox and a seperate place for your sideboard. I always put everything in my backpack...but seriously just do what you feel is convenient for you.

Byw make sure to bring a way to count life, some dice, a way to track counters, and also anything you might want to trade. Trading is a good way to bond with your local gamers. No pun intended hehe

tsul25 · August 07, 2012, 01:05:27 AM

The life thing is another good suggestion. I use my my phone or my iPad most of the time, but I should probably go with the traditional pen and paper against people I don't know. I've definitely got plenty of dice. No 20 sided though.

As for my sideboard, it's not quite finished, so unless you can put lands in or something I won't have 15 cards.

And I would bring stuff to trade but I don't have much of anything. I got a deck builders toolkit to start and a few packs, but mostly bought the singles I wanted. My only good cards were {griselbrand} which I sold for $10 on ebay, and an {entreat the angels}, which I traded into the store for a bunch of the cards I needed, like 2 increasing vengeance, 2 increasing savagery, 2 magmaquake, 2 flings, and 2 strangleroot geists. They probably got the better deal.. But it's not like I could use the card anyways.

Danielkix · August 07, 2012, 01:10:47 AM

I went to my first one a few weeks ago, used my phone for keeping life track, I was really nervous but the first person I played was nice and even said if I had any questions as we played to go ahead and ask, everyone I played with was friendly but that doesn't all FNMs don't have that handful of jerks. I didn't have dice for counters and my opponents let me borrow theirs. I made a few misplays the first few games from nerves and forgot to use battle cry when I played my {hero of the bladehold}. As you play more it gets easier

tsul25 · August 07, 2012, 01:26:15 AM

Well hopefully I'll get some nice opponents lol. I haven't decided which store to go to though. One seems nice, but isn't big on magic and only does a non fnm draft. One seems nice also, but they just opened so they said they don't get a big turn out. And the other one is big, but they seem a lot more serious and I feel like it would be slightly intimidating for my first time.

Danielkix · August 07, 2012, 01:43:16 AM

Quote from: tsul25 on August 07, 2012, 01:26:15 AM
Well hopefully I'll get some nice opponents lol. I haven't decided which store to go to though. One seems nice, but isn't big on magic and only does a non fnm draft. One seems nice also, but they just opened so they said they don't get a big turn out. And the other one is big, but they seem a lot more serious and I feel like it would be slightly intimidating for my first time.

My option was close one with about dozen players and one with 60, I went to the 60player only because my group of friends go there

tsul25 · August 07, 2012, 01:46:27 AM

Quote from: Danielkix on August 07, 2012, 01:43:16 AM
Quote from: tsul25 on August 07, 2012, 01:26:15 AM
Well hopefully I'll get some nice opponents lol. I haven't decided which store to go to though. One seems nice, but isn't big on magic and only does a non fnm draft. One seems nice also, but they just opened so they said they don't get a big turn out. And the other one is big, but they seem a lot more serious and I feel like it would be slightly intimidating for my first time.
My option was close one with about dozen players and one with 60, I went to the 60player only because my group of friends go there

Oh. Well.. I don't have friends.

tsul25 · August 07, 2012, 01:47:03 AM

That play magic lol. At least not until I go back to college. So I'm on my own for now

Kaleo42 · August 07, 2012, 04:03:35 AM

Yes youre allowed to put basic lands in your sideboard. Any legal cards may be put in your side regardless of if they have anything to do with your deck.

Ghetto Pass · August 07, 2012, 05:27:57 AM

Honestly, if anyone treats you poorly they're the idiot not you.

Thattallguy · August 07, 2012, 09:35:18 AM

One suggestion I would make is to make sure you know and understand the basic turn structure and rules. Don't let someone take advantage of you because you don't fully understand the rules. If something happens and you don't know the answer you can always raise your hand and ask the judge. I should have done that at my first fnm a few times but didn't and it cost me the game and eventually the match. On a side note do not leave your cards unattended at all. I have heard stories from a few friends of mine that have said their decks and sometimes just a few cards from their decks were stolen cause they left them unattended. Now I am not saying that everyone is gonna steal your stuff but it could happen so just be careful.

One last tip. Let everyone know it's your first fnm they will take it easy on you as far as mistakes made during the course of the game.